Team Canada women take their final tune-up against midget Royals

Team Canada’s Women’s hockey team has completed a 24-game schedule featuring opponents from across the Alberta Midget Hockey League.

On Jan. 21, at the Calgary Winsport Arena, Team Canada’s Women’s hockey team hosted Calgary’s own AAA Royals, a midget boys hockey team.

The game was included in a three-month “warm up” period, including 23 other games, before the women’s team headed off to PyeongChang, South Korea for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Forward Mélodie Daoust scored two goals, and set up another, helping Team Canada close out the series with a 4-1 win over the Royals.

The Olympians finished 10-4-4 in Alberta Midget Hockey League.

Defensemen Brigette Lacquette, and forward Rebecca Johnston, scored the other two goals.

She shoots, she scores!: Defensemen Bridgette Lacquette, #4, celebrates her goal with a hug from teammate and forward, #2, Meghan Agosta. Team Canada’s Women’s Hockey Team came out with a 4-1 win over Calgary’s own AAA Royals Midget boys team. The game was a part of a 24 game series titled “Where the Journey Begins” against the top players in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. The series was a four month “warm up” to prepare the women for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by Madison Freeman/SAIT)

Lacquette got the game started just past the seven-minute mark, hammering a slap shot off the post and in past Calgary AAA Royals goaltender Noah Decottignies.

Lacquette has been recognized and praised this season for being the first-ever First Nations player for Canada’s Olympic women’s hockey team.

“You can achieve anything you put your mind to. It doesn’t matter where you come from. You can always achieve your dreams,” she said during a national media call.

The Royals had the run of play in the second period, outshooting Canada 10-5, but Daoust extended the lead just 0.7 seconds before the buzzer.

Forward Dominic Turner of the AAA Royals finally got one past Canadian goalie, Ann-Renée Desbiens, early in the third period, to cut the deficit to two.

The Canadians later closed the door on a power play late in third period with an empty-net goal scored by Daoust.

Team Canada’s Women’s hockey team won 13 games and lost 11 during the three-month span prior to its departure for PyeongChang.

“Our play against the Alberta Midget Hockey League is instrumental in our team’s preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and wouldn’t be possible without the support of the league and its players,” said Melody Davidson, general manager of national women’s team programs, in an interview with Hockey Canada.

“This series is a great opportunity for fans across Alberta to be part of Team Canada’s journey to PyeongChang and the support we receive from communities across Alberta will certainly fuel our team as it moves forward.”

“The Alberta Midget Hockey League is once again looking forward to partnering with Canada’s National Women’s Team in its quest to bring home Olympic gold,” said Bobby Olynyk, vice-president, Alberta Midget Hockey League.

“Each of the 18 scheduled league games, which are for two points in the standings, will be a challenge and the league is honoured and thanks Hockey Canada for making us part of this exciting event. Great memories will come out of this series for the players as they move forward in their careers,” Olynyk said.